Fresh grapes, avocados, tomatoes, raspberries, green beans, and oat milk stocked Chester, PA’s first-ever community fridge at its unveiling. Community members facing food insecurity can access the fridge (as well as a shared pantry and deep freezer) with a no-questions-asked policy at its home base at the Boys & Girls Club of Chester, PA.
The fridge comes as a result of the partnership between Penn Medicine and the Philadelphia Union to increase food access and nutritional awareness in the community.
“We’re only in the first year of this partnership and already we’re working on projects to benefit the community,” said Kevin Mahoney, CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. “I’m excited for what the future holds and what our organizations can achieve together.”
“That’s part of our responsibility, to continue to offer opportunities and resources, and the partnership with the Union and Penn Medicine is an awesome opportunity for our youth and the community of Chester,” added Derrick T. Billups Sr., the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Chester, PA. “We’re going to make sure this is open and available to anyone and everyone who wants to take advantage of it.”
The community refrigerator will be open weekdays from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and restocked weekly with help from the non-profit food donation facilitator Sharing Excess, the Union, various volunteers, and Penn Medicine.